Nakshatras

Nakshatra is the term for lunar mansion in Hindu astrology. A nakshatra is one of 27 (sometimes also 28) sectors along the ecliptic. Their names are related to the most prominent asterisms in the respective sectors.
The starting point for the nakshatras is the point on the ecliptic directly opposite to the star Spica called Chitr? in Sanskrit (other slightly different definitions exist). It is called Mesh?di or the “start of Aries”.[citation needed] The ecliptic is divided into each of the nakshatras eastwards starting from this point. The number of nakshatras reflects the number of days in a sidereal month (modern value: 27.32 days), that the width of a nakshatra is traversed by the moon in about one day. Each nakshatra is further subdivided into quarters (or padas) These play a role in popular Hindu astrology, where each pada is associated with a syllable, conventionally chosen as the first syllable of the given name of a child born when the moon was in the corresponding pada.

The nakshatras of traditional bhartiya astronomy are based on a list of 28 asterisms found in the Atharvaveda and also in the Shatapatha Brahmana. The first astronomical text that lists them is the Vedanga Jyotisha.

In classical Hindu mythology (Mahabharata, Harivamsa), the creation of the nakshatras is attributed to Daksha. They are personified as daughters of the deity and as mythological wives of Chandra, the moon god, or alternatively the daughters of Kashyapa, the brother of Daksha.

Each of the nakshatras is governed as ‘lord’ by one of the nine graha in the following sequence: Ketu (South Lunar Node), Shukra (Venus), Ravi or Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Mangala (Mars), Rahu (North Lunar Node), Guru or Brihaspati (Jupiter), Shani (Saturn) and Budha (Mercury). This cycle repeats itself three times to cover all 27 nakshatras. The lord of each nakshatra determines the planetary period known as the dasha, which is considered of major importance in forecasting the life path of the individual in Hindu astrology.

In Vedic Sanskrit, the term nák?atra may refer to any heavenly body, or to “the stars” collectively. The classical sense of “lunar mansion” is first found in the Atharvaveda, and becomes the primary meaning of the term in Classical Sanskrit.

List of Nakshatras

The classical list of 27 nakshatras is first found in the Vedanga Jyotisha, a text dated to the final centuries BCE. The nakshatra system predates the influence of Hellenistic astronomy on vedic tradition, which became prevalent from about the 2nd century CE.

In Hindu astronomy, there was an older tradition of 28 Nakshatras which were used as celestial markers in the heavens. When these were mapped into equal divisions of the ecliptic, a division of 27 portions was adopted since that resulted in a cleaner definition of each portion (i.e. segment) subtending 13° 20′ (as opposed to 12° 51 3/7’ in the case of 28 segments). In the process, the Nakshatra Abhijit was left out without a portion[3]:179. The Surya Siddhantha concisely specifies the coordinates of the twenty seven Nakshatras

The following list of nakshatras gives the corresponding regions of sky, following Basham.

No.

Name

Associated stars

Description

Image

1

Ashvini
“wife of the Ashvins”

β and γ Arietis

Lord: Ketu (South lunar node)

Symbol : Horse’s head

Deity : Ashvins, the horse-headed twins who are physicians to the gods

Indian zodiac: 0° – 13°20′ Mesha

Western zodiac 26° Aries – 9°20′ Taurus

2; 7

Bharani
“the bearer”

35, 39, and 41 Arietis

Lord: Shukra (Venus)

Symbol: Yoni, the female organ of reproduction

Deity: Yama, god of death or Dharma

Indian zodiac: 13° 20′ – 26°40′ Mesha

Western zodiac 9° 20′ – 22° 40′ Taurus

3

Krittika
an old name of the Pleiades; personified as the nurses of Kārttikeya, a son of Shiva.

Pleiades

Lord: Surya (Sun)

Symbol: Knife or spear

Deity : Agni, god of fire

Indian zodiac: 26°40′ Mesha – 10° Vrishabha

Western zodiac 22° 40′ Taurus – 6° Gemini

4; 9

Rohini
“the red one”, a name of Aldebaran. Also known as brāhmī

Aldebaran

Lord: Chandra (Moon)

Symbol: Cart or chariot, temple, banyan tree

Deity : Brahma or Prajapati, the Creator

Indian zodiac: 10° – 23°20′ Vrishabha

Western zodiac 6° – 19°20′ Gemini

5; 3

Mrigashīrsha
“the deer’s head”. Also known as āgrahāyaṇī

λ, φ Orionis

Lord: Mangala (Mars)

Symbol: Deer’s head

Deity: Soma, Chandra, the Moon god

Indian zodiac: 23° 20′ Vrishabha – 6° 40′ Mithuna

Western zodiac: 19°20′ Gemini – 2°40′ Cancer

6; 4

Ardra
“the moist one”

Betelgeuse

Lord: Rahu (North lunar node)

Symbol: Teardrop, diamond, a human head

Deity : Rudra, the storm god

Indian zodiac: 6° 40′ – 20° Mithuna

Western zodiac: 2° 40′ – 16° Cancer

7; 5

Punarvasu (dual)
“the two restorers of goods”, also known as yamakau “the two chariots”

Castor and Pollux

Lord: Guru (Jupiter)

Symbol : Bow and quiver

Deity : Aditi, mother of the gods

Indian zodiac: 20° Mithuna – 3°20′ Karka

Western zodiac 16° – 29°20′ Cancer

8; 6

Pushya
“the nourisher”, also known as sidhya or tiṣya

γ, δ and θ Cancri

Lord: Shani (Saturn)

Symbol : Cow’s udder, lotus, arrow and circle

Deity : Bṛhaspati, priest of the gods

Indian zodiac: 3°20′ -16°40′ Karka

Western zodiac 29°20′ Cancer – 12°40′ Leo

9; 7

Āshleshā
“the embrace”

δ, ε, η, ρ, and σ Hydrae

Lord: Budh (Mercury)

Symbol: Serpent

Deity : Sarpas or Nagas, deified snakes

Indian zodiac: 16°40′ – 30° Karka

Western zodiac 12°40′ – 26° Leo

10; 15

Maghā
“the bountiful”

Regulus

Lord: Ketu (south lunar node)

Symbol : Royal Throne

Deity : Pitrs, ‘The Fathers’, family ancestors

Indian zodiac: 0° – 13°20′ Simha

Western zodiac 26° Leo – 9°20′ Virgo

11

Pūrva Phalgunī
“first reddish one”

δ and θ Leonis

Lord: Shukra (Venus)

Symbol : Front legs of bed, hammock, fig tree

Deity : Bhaga, god of marital bliss and prosperity

Indian zodiac: 13°20′ – 26°40′ Simha

Western zodiac 9°20′ – 22°40′ Virgo

12

Uttara Phalgunī
“second reddish one”

Denebola

Lord: Surya (Sun)

Symbol: Four legs of bed, hammock

Deity : Aryaman, god of patronage and favours

Indian zodiac: 26°40′ Simha- 10° Kanya

Western zodiac 22°40′ Virgo – 6° Libra

13

Hasta
“the hand”

α, β, γ, δ and ε Corvi

Lord: Chandra (Moon)

Symbol: Hand or fist

Deity : Saviti or Surya, the Sun god

Indian zodiac: 10° – 23°20′ Kanya

Western zodiac 6° – 19°20′ Libra

14

Chitra
“the bright one”, a name of Spica

Spica

Lord: Mangala (Mars)

Symbol: Bright jewel or pearl

Deity : Tvastar or Vishvakarman, the celestial architect

Indian zodiac: 23°20′ Kanya – 6°40′ Tula

Western zodiac: 19°20′ Libra – 2°40′ Scorpio

15

Svāti
“Su-Ati (sanskrit) Very good” name of Arcturus

Arcturus

Lord: Rahu (north lunar node)

Symbol: Shoot of plant, coral

Deity : Vayu, the Wind god

Indian zodiac: 6°40′ – 20° Tula

Western zodiac 2°40′ – 16° Scorpio

16; 14

Visakha
“forked, having branches”; also known as rādhā “the gift”

α, β, γ and ι Librae

Lord: Guru (Jupiter)

Symbol : Triumphal arch, potter’s wheel

Deity : Indra, chief of the gods; Agni, god of Fire

Indian zodiac: 20° Tula – 3°20′ Vrishchika

Western zodiac 16° – 29°20′ Scorpio

17

Anuradha
“following rādhā“

β, δ and π Scorpionis

Lord: Shani (Saturn)

Symbol : Triumphal archway, lotus

Deity : Mitra, one of Adityas of friendship and partnership

Indian zodiac: 3°20′ – 16°40′ Vrishchika

Western zodiac 29°20′ Scorpio – 12°40′ Sagittarius

18; 16

Jyeshtha
“the eldest, most excellent”

α, σ, and τ Scorpionis

Lord: Budh (Mercury)

Symbol : circular amulet, umbrella, earring

Deity : Indra, chief of the gods

Indian zodiac: 16°40′ – 30° Vrishchika

Western zodiac 12°40′ – 26° Sagittarius

19; 17

Mula
“the root”

ε, ζ, η, θ, ι, κ, λ, μ and ν Scorpionis

Lord: Ketu (south lunar node)

Symbol : Bunch of roots tied together, elephant goad

Deity : Nirrti, goddess of dissolution and destruction

Indian zodiac: 0° – 13°20′ Dhanus

Western zodiac 26° Sagittarius – 9°20′ Capricorn

20; 18

Purva Ashadha
“first of the aṣāḍhā“, aṣāḍhā “the invincible one” being the name of a constellation